Best Mattresses for the Money

Watch Our Amerisleep AS2 Video Review

When I first tried the Amerisleep AS2, I immediately noticed its perfect balance of comfort and support. This mattress is designed with a medium-firm feel, making it ideal for various sleepers, especially back and stomach sleepers.

The AS2’s Bio-Pur® memory foam layer cradles your body, relieving pressure points without making you feel stuck. This feature helped me wake up without the usual aches and pains, providing a refreshed start to my day. It’s precisely what Dr Jordan Burns said: “The mattress exhibited a quick response time, thanks to its bio-based foam layers, allowing for comfortable repositioning without feeling trapped.”

The HIVE® transition layer in the Amerisleep AS2 offers targeted support where you need it most. This layer is zoned to support areas like your shoulders and hips while maintaining a softer feel in lighter areas such as your head and feet. With this design, you can expect proper spinal alignment and reduce the risk of developing back pain. I could feel the difference in how my body was supported, which significantly improved my sleep quality.

Moreover, the Celliant® cover adds another layer of sophistication to the Amerisleep AS2. This advanced fabric converts body heat into infrared energy, promoting better circulation and aiding muscle recovery. It helped me stay cool overnight, preventing overheating and ensuring a comfortable sleep environment. The combination of innovative materials and thoughtful design makes the Amerisleep AS2 an excellent investment for anyone looking to enhance their sleep experience without breaking the bank.

Read My Full Review of the Amerisleep AS2

Watch Our Zoma Boost Video Review

The Zoma Boost is a game-changer in the luxury mattress market, offering an unparalleled blend of comfort, support, and advanced technology. I could feel its premium quality from the moment I lay down on this mattress.

The Zoma Boost is crafted with a unique combination of responsive memory foam and durable pocketed coils, which provide exceptional support and pressure relief. This hybrid construction not only adapts to my body’s contours but also ensures that I never feel stuck, making it easier to change positions throughout the night. As a side sleeper, the mattress contours well to the body, offering ample cushioning for hips and shoulders while ensuring spinal alignment, crucial for side sleepers to prevent soreness and discomfort.

What sets the Zoma Boost apart is its focus on performance and recovery, making it an excellent choice for athletes and active individuals. The top layer of gel-infused memory foam is designed to enhance cooling and comfort, while the Reactiv™ layer provides a responsive, bouncy feel that helps alleviate pressure points. As someone who often wakes up with aches and pains, I found that the Zoma Boost significantly reduced my discomfort, allowing me to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.

In addition to its superior comfort and support, the Zoma Boost features advanced cooling technology that keeps the mattress temperature neutral throughout the night. While comparing the cooling feature, I would regard the Zoma Boost to be better than the Saatva Classic.

The breathable cover and airflow-promoting materials keep me cool, even on warmer nights. Even on the warmest nights, I remained pleasantly cool and comfortable, a must for a deep, restorative sleep. Dr Jordan found Zoma Boost excelled in temperature regulation, thanks to the cooling gel infusion and breathable coil layer.

This attention to detail in the design and materials used in the Zoma Boost enhances the sleeping experience and demonstrates a commitment to quality and durability. Overall, the Zoma Boost offers luxurious comfort and support, making it an exceptional value for those looking to invest in a high-end mattress without the exorbitant price tag.

Read My Full Review of the Zoma Boost

Watch Our Vaya Hybrid Video Review

The Vaya Hybrid is a standout option in hybrid mattresses, balancing affordability with high-quality materials and construction. From my first night on the Vaya Hybrid, I was impressed by its ability to provide comfort and support.

The mattress features a combination of adaptive foam layers and individually wrapped coils, which offer a responsive, supportive feel that adapts to my body’s movements. This ensures that I’m well-supported no matter my sleeping position, reducing pressure points and promoting a restful night’s sleep. According to Dr. Jordan Burns, “While it may not be as firm as desired for stomach sleepers, it still provides sufficient support to prevent excessive sinking. Combination sleepers appreciate its medium firmness and responsive coil layer, facilitating easy movement and ensuring comfort throughout the night.”

One of the key highlights of the Vaya Hybrid is its excellent breathability. The top layer of Vaya Comfort Foam is designed with an open-cell structure that promotes airflow, keeping the mattress cool throughout the night. This is complemented by the coil layer, which allows for additional ventilation. As someone who tends to sleep hot, I found this feature particularly beneficial, helping me stay cool and comfortable all night.

Moreover, the Vaya Hybrid excels in providing edge support, which is often a concern with hybrid mattresses. The reinforced edges prevent sagging and make the mattress feel stable and supportive up to the perimeter. This is especially useful for couples sharing the bed, as it maximizes the usable sleep surface. Overall, the Vaya Hybrid offers an exceptional balance of comfort, support, and durability at a price point that makes it one of the best hybrid mattresses for the money.

Read My Full Review of the Vaya Hybrid

Watch Our Helix Midnight Luxe Video Review

The Helix Midnight Luxe is a top-tier choice for anyone seeking a cooling mattress that offers both luxury and value. As someone who values a good night’s sleep, I was immediately impressed by how the Helix Midnight Luxe combines advanced cooling technology with exceptional comfort and support.

This mattress features a premium quilted pillow top, which adds an extra layer of plush comfort right from the start. Beneath this, the mattress incorporates gel-infused memory foam designed to dissipate heat, keeping the sleeping surface cool and comfortable. Dr. Jordan Burns has been a fan of this hybrid mattress too. “As a chiropractor experiencing the Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress for the first time, I am immediately struck by its exceptional balance of comfort and support”, Dr. Burns.

In addition to its cooling properties, the Helix Midnight Luxe excels in providing targeted support through its zoned lumbar support system. This design ensures that different body areas receive the appropriate level of support, which is crucial for maintaining proper spinal alignment and reducing pressure points. Kristina adds: “The zoned lumbar support coils target the lower back, promoting proper spinal alignment and alleviating potential pain. Whether lying on the side or back, users experience a comfortable surface with no pressure points or discomfort, making it an ideal choice for a restful sleep.”

As a side sleeper, I found this particularly beneficial for my hips and shoulders, which often bear the brunt of pressure during sleep. The combination of memory foam and individually wrapped coils also contributes to a responsive feel that adapts to movements throughout the night, enhancing overall comfort.

Another standout feature of the Helix Midnight Luxe is its edge support. Unlike many mattresses that tend to sag at the edges, the reinforced perimeter of the Helix Midnight Luxe provides a stable and supportive edge, which maximizes the usable sleep surface and prevents that dreaded roll-off feeling. This mattress excels in cooling and support and offers durability and luxurious comfort, making it an excellent investment for anyone.

Read My Full Review of the Helix Midnight Luxe

Watch Our Nolah Evolution 15 Video Review

When I first lay on this mattress, I was immediately struck by the plush pillow top, which provides a soft and inviting surface that enhances the overall sleep experience.

The mattress features multiple layers of high-quality foam and a robust support system that work together to deliver an optimal balance of comfort and support. This combination ensures that sleepers enjoy a restful and rejuvenating night’s sleep, free from the usual aches and pains of lesser-quality mattresses.

The Nolah Evolution 15″ is designed with a proprietary AirFoamICE™ layer, infused with graphite to help dissipate heat and keep the mattress cool overnight. This is a significant advantage for hot sleepers, ensuring a consistently comfortable sleep temperature.

I found this feature particularly beneficial as someone who often wakes up feeling overheated. Additionally, the mattress includes a supportive high-density foam layer and a tri-zone support system that targets specific body areas, promoting proper spinal alignment and reducing pressure points.

Another notable aspect of the Nolah Evolution 15″ is its durability and edge support. The reinforced edges prevent sagging and provide a stable sitting surface, a common issue with many pillow top mattresses. This mattress feels luxurious and is built to last, making it an excellent long-term investment. The mattress is known to provide better Motion Isolation as compared to the Brooklyn Aurora Hybrid. Also, Dr. Burns highlighted its motion isolation feature stating: “Motion transfer on this mattress was virtually nonexistent, making it an excellent choice for couples or anyone who shares a bed. The edge support was strong, ensuring stability and support even at the very edges of the mattress, which maximizes the usable sleep surface”

I’ll admit upfront that the Evolution mattress comes with a higher price tag, but it’s an investment that pays off in numerous ways. Selecting the right firmness level to suit your weight is crucial, and the benefits are outstanding once you do.

Read My Full Review of the Nolah Evolution 15

Watch Our Bear Original Mattress Video Review

As someone who prefers a firmer sleep surface, I was impressed with the balance Bear Original mattress strikes between support and comfort. Kristina adds: “As a side sleeper, I experienced no painful pressure on my hips, although I generally prefer a slightly softer mattress. For back and stomach sleeping, the firmness provided excellent support and spinal alignment, making these positions ideal for this mattress.”

The Bear Original is designed with athletes and active individuals in mind, utilizing advanced materials that promote recovery and restful sleep. The firmness level is perfect for those who need extra support, ensuring proper spinal alignment and minimizing the risk of waking up with back pain.

One of the standout features of the Bear Original is its use of Celliant® technology on the cover. This innovative fabric is clinically proven to promote faster recovery, enhance overall well-being, and improve sleep quality by converting body heat into infrared energy. For anyone with an active lifestyle, I found this feature particularly appealing. The mattress also incorporates high-density foam that provides robust support and durability, ensuring firmness is maintained over time without compromising comfort.

Additionally, the Bear Original mattress excels in temperature regulation. The graphite-infused foam layer effectively dissipates heat, preventing the uncomfortable build-up of warmth that can disrupt sleep. This cooling feature, combined with the firmness and support, makes the Bear Original a standout choice for anyone seeking a high-quality, firm mattress that offers excellent value for money.

The Bear Original proves you don’t have to sacrifice comfort or performance to get a firm mattress that supports a healthy and restful night’s sleep.

Read My Full Review of the Bear Original Mattress

Watch Our Brooklyn Bedding Plank Mattress Video Review

The Plank Mattress is the best flippable mattress for the money, offering unparalleled versatility and support for various sleep preferences. This unique design features two distinct firmness levels in one mattress—one side is ultra-firm, while the other is firm, catering to those who need a sturdy, supportive sleep surface.

If you often struggle to find the right balance between comfort and support, the Plank Mattress provides an innovative solution that adapts to changing sleep needs without compromising on quality.

When I first tested the Plank Mattress, I was impressed by its construction and the attention to detail in its design. The ultra-firm side delivers a flat, supportive surface perfect for back sleepers and those who prefer minimal sinkage.

Flipping the mattress reveals the firm side, which offers a bit more cushion while maintaining robust support, ideal for those who need a firmer sleep surface but want a touch of softness. This dual-firmness feature makes the Plank Mattress an excellent choice for couples with different firmness preferences or individuals who want to switch things up based on their changing sleep needs or preferences.

Beyond its firmness options, the Plank Mattress is designed with high-quality materials that ensure durability and comfort. The mattress features a quilted top layer for added comfort, and the high-density foam core provides excellent support and longevity.

This combination of features ensures that the mattress delivers on its promise of firmness and provides a comfortable and supportive sleep experience over the long term.

Read My Full Review of the Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm

Watch Our Amerisleep Organica Video Review

After extensive testing, I found the Amerisleep Organica to be the top choice for a latex mattress, offering incredible value. Made from natural and sustainable components, it’s perfect for those who prioritize health and environmental consciousness. As someone who has tested numerous mattresses, I found the Amerisleep Organica to deliver an unparalleled sleeping experience, blending the responsive support of latex with exceptional comfort.

From the moment I lay down on the Amerisleep Organica, the quality of its construction was evident. The mattress features a plush, organic cotton cover that feels soft against the skin and promotes breathability. Beneath this cover lies a layer of GOTS-certified organic wool, which naturally regulates temperature and wicks away moisture, ensuring a cool and comfortable sleep environment. This wool layer also provides a natural fire barrier, eliminating the need for harmful chemical treatments.

Dr Burns states, “Motion transfer on the Amerisleep Organica was minimal, with the latex absorbing and isolating movements, ensuring minimal disturbances for those sharing the bed. The edge support was solid, providing a consistent feel across the entire mattress surface and allowing full utilization of the bed without the risk of rolling off the edges.”

The core of the Amerisleep Organica comprises 100% natural Talalay latex, known for its superior elasticity and durability. This latex layer delivers targeted support and pressure relief, adapting to the body’s contours while maintaining optimal spinal alignment. Unlike synthetic foams, Talalay latex is hypoallergenic and dust mites resistant, making it an excellent choice for allergy sufferers.

The mattress’s base layer consists of high-density Dunlop latex, which adds stability and longevity to the overall structure. With its thoughtful design and premium materials, the Amerisleep Organica offers exceptional value for those seeking a healthy and luxurious sleep experience

Read My Full Review of the Amerisleep Organica

Watch Our Happsy Organic Mattress Video Review

For anyone seeking the best organic mattress at great value, the Happsy Mattress stands out. As someone who prioritizes both a good night’s sleep and eco-friendly products, I found Happsy to be an excellent option. Crafted from certified organic materials, this mattress is free from harmful chemicals and synthetic substances, making it a healthier choice for both you and the environment. Happsy’s dedication to sustainable practices doesn’t compromise on comfort or support, making it a smart choice for conscientious consumers.

When I first laid down on the Happsy Mattress, I immediately noticed the natural feel and comfort it provided. The mattress features organic cotton, wool, and latex, creating a breathable and responsive sleep surface.

The organic latex offers gentle contouring and pressure relief. At the same time, the pocketed coil support system provides excellent support and helps with motion isolation, ensuring a restful sleep whether you sleep alone or with a partner. Combining these materials ensures you get the best of both worlds: a comfortable, supportive mattress that aligns with your values.

The construction of the Happsy Mattress also speaks to its quality and durability. The organic cotton cover is soft and breathable, the wool layer acts as a natural flame barrier and moisture-wicking layer, and the latex and coil system work together to provide a balanced, supportive feel.

Using organic materials and sustainable manufacturing processes ensures that this mattress not only delivers comfort and support but also promotes a healthier sleep environment. For anyone looking to invest in an organic mattress that offers exceptional value without compromising on quality, the Happsy Mattress is a top contender.

Read My Full Review of the Happsy Organic Mattress

Watch Our Zoma Start Video Review

The Zoma Start is the best memory foam mattress for the money, offering a superb combination of comfort, support, and affordability. Designed with athletes and active individuals in mind, this mattress is engineered to enhance recovery and ensure a restful night’s sleep. Zoma Start exceeds expectations in both performance and value with its thoughtful construction and innovative materials.

Upon trying out the Zoma Start, I was impressed by its adaptive feel and pressure-relieving properties. The mattress features a tri-layer design, starting with a breathable cover that helps regulate temperature, followed by a layer of gel-infused memory foam that conforms to the body’s shape, alleviating pressure points. This top layer provides a plush, comfortable surface and keeps the sleeper cool throughout the night. Beneath the gel memory foam is the Reactiv™ layer, which adds a responsive bounce to the mattress, making it easier to move and shift positions without feeling stuck.

The base of the Zoma Start is made from durable support foam, which ensures stability and proper spinal alignment. This foundation layer provides support for a wide range of sleepers, including those with sleep apnea or back pain.

Combining these layers creates a balanced sleeping experience that caters to comfort and support. For anyone looking to invest in a high-quality memory foam mattress without breaking the bank, the Zoma Start offers exceptional value and performance.

Read My Full Review of the Zoma Start

How to Choose the Best Mattress for the Money

A lot of people think about the price of their mattress when looking for the best deal. While sticker price is an important factor when buying a mattress, it isn’t the only thing that decides how much your mattress ultimately costs. You’ll also need to take other factors into consideration.

Price

There’s no denying your mattress’s sticker price is a huge factor in how much you’ll pay for it over the course of its life. Mattress prices vary wildly based on quality, manufacturer, material, and sometimes even the location where they’re sold. You can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $7,000 or $8,000 for a mattress, depending on its materials, thickness, and mattress size.

Keep in mind that there is an acceptable price range. If you’re paying less than $500 for a queen size mattress, you should really be questioning why that is. It’s possible to get a great deal on a mattress every once in a while and find excellent mattresses under $500, but you should be careful to ensure that lower-cost mattresses have not skimped on quality.

On the flip side, if you’re paying more than $2,500 for a queen size mattress, you’re getting into luxury mattress territory. These expensive mattresses might have the bells and whistles you want, but there’s no need to pay this much for a simplequeen size mattress. You can get a quality product for much less than this.

Durability

Your mattress’s durability has a huge impact on how much you pay for it over time. Aside from price, durability is the greatest factor that decides how much you pay per year to sleep on your mattress. Or in other words, how long until you have to replace your mattress.

For instance, if you pay $1,000 for a mattress that lasts 10 years vs. $1,500 for a mattress that lasts 20, the $1,500 mattress is actually the cheaper of the two over the course of its life because its cost per year is $75. Whereas the $1,000 mattress has an annual cost of $100. That isn’t to say a mattress under $1000 is bad, however.

For this reason, it’s vital to look at your mattress’s life expectancy in comparison to its upfront cost. If you want to save, replacing your mattress less often is a better way to do it. Especially when you consider that you might have to pay fees to have your new mattress delivered or recycle the old mattress.

Durability can be partly determined by how thick a mattress is, as more material can often withstand more use. Plus, too-thin mattresses are generally uncomfortable and unsupportive.

We recommend mattresses at least 10 inches thick, although for many sleepers the ideal is a 12 inch mattress.

Quality

Quality and durability go hand in hand when it comes to the most comfortable mattresses, so a mattress’s quality can definitely have an impact on both its sticker price and its cost over time.

However, you also need to think about a mattress’s quality in terms that are divorced from its cost. You’ll be spending three of the next 10 years on your mattress. And its construction and quality have a direct impact on your sleep and your overall health.

A bad mattress can cause everything from interrupted sleep to back pain to worsened sleep apnea. For that reason alone, you should invest in the best mattress you can afford, even if it costs a little more than you would like to pay.

Deals and Discounts

Deals and discount days are some of the best ways to get a quality mattress for an amazing price. Of course, major sales fall on days like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Black Friday. Butwhile these are some of the best times to buy a mattress, there are other ways to snag a steal on a great mattress.

For instance, shopping in the spring can help you land a fantastic price on a new mattress because stores are trying to get rid of inventory to make room for new models. Avoiding brick-and-mortar stores in favor of shopping online mattresses can also help you get a great deal because you’re not paying a big box store’s overhead and sales staff. You’re buying directly from the warehouse.

Finally, you could also look online to find less conventional sales. Closeout sales are an excellent way to get steep discounts on all kinds of furniture, including beds. And some furniture stores and mattress companies also celebrate their big anniversaries with blowout sales.

As a refresher, here are the big mattress sales to keep an eye out for:

• Best MLK Day Mattress Sales
• Best Presidents Day Mattress Sales
• Best Memorial Day Mattress Sale
• Best 4th of July Mattress Sales
• Best Labor Day Mattress Sales
• Best Black Friday Mattress Sales
• Best Cyber Monday Mattress Sales

Warranty and Sleep Trial

A mattress’s warranty and sleep trial can have an impact on how much you spend in a couple of different ways.

First off, a sleep trial ensures you don’t wind up paying for a mattress you hate. A sleep trial period of at least 90 days ensures you have enough time to break in your mattress and know how it’s going to work for you without risking the purchase price. If you don’t like it, send it back for a refund.

Second, a mattress warranty doesn’t just insulate you from manufacturer defects. It also indicates to you how durable your mattress is. For instance, a 10-year warranty indicates the manufacturer has built your mattress to last at least a decade.

Other Considerations

Aside from price, there are several other factors you should consider when choosing a mattress. All these factors can impact price and durability, but they also impact the feel of the mattress. This includes factors like responsiveness and temperature regulation.

Mattress Material

The material that goes into your mattress is one of the key determinants of its feel as well as its life expectancy and sticker price. Some types of mattresses are more durable and more expensive, while others are more affordable but also break down quicker.

Memory Foam

Flexible polyurethane foam is the most affordable mattress material over time. It’s slightly more expensive than the cheapest mattress construction (innerspring), but it’s much more durable. That means you’ll pay the lowest price per year of use if you stick with a memory foam mattress. Expect to pay around $1150 for a queen memory foam mattress. And expect it to last between 10 and 20 years.

Memory foam mattresses aren’t just durable and affordable. It’s also extremely comfortable and supportive. This is why it’s quickly catching up to innerspring construction in popularity. Memory foam can contour like no other mattress material. It can follow the curve of your body to ensure you get custom support. This keeps your spine aligned and your pressure points alleviated.

Even better, the problems with traditional memory foam have been largely solved thanks to new technology. Traditional memory foam could be sweltering. But thanks to improvements like gel or mineral infusions, microbeads, and open-cell construction, memory foam is much better at temperature regulation.

Memory foam is also much more responsive now, thanks to infusions that help reduce lag time. Bouncy transition foam can also help your bed’s memory foam comfort layer spring back into place quickly. However, memory foam mattresses will not be as responsive as other mattress materials. So active sleepers who like to toss and turn may be better off looking elsewhere.

Natural Latex

Natural latex foam comes from the processed sap of the rubber tree. Latex is, without doubt, the most durable of all the mattress materials, able to last 20 years at a minimum. It’s also the most expensive material.

You can expect to pay an average of $2,100 for a queen size latex mattress – likely more than that for organic latex. Combined with its unbeatable durability, latex is an affordable material year over year, but you’ll be paying a steep price upfront.

Latex mattresses aren’t just extremely durable. It is also highly breathable and incredibly responsive. That makes it perfect for hot sleepers and active sleepers who don’t like to lie still when they sleep. Latex is also a wonderful material for eco-conscious sleepers because it’s recyclable and biodegradable. It’s virtually the only material for sleepers who want all-natural foam as well.

Despite all these positive attributes, latex does have a couple of problems. Its initial cost puts it out of reach for many shoppers. Latex can also trigger severe allergic reactions in some individuals. So those who know they’re allergic should stick with memory foam.

You might have sheets and a mattress protector between your body and the actual latex of your mattress, but there’s still ample potential for contact.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses combine an open coil support core and a comfort layer made of a number of plush materials ranging from foam to cotton to fiberfill. Innerspring mattresses have the lowest upfront cost, coming in at $950 for an average queen. But they’re also the least durable.

You can expect to replace the average innerspring within a decade of purchasing it. This means that innerspring beds are actually more costly over time than some more durable mattresses.

Innerspring mattresses offer a feel that’s more traditional. So those who’ve gotten used to the bouncy feel of an innerspring mattress can find a quality one that meets their needs. Innerspring mattresses are also highly breathable, so they can keep hot sleepers cool all night long.

Innerspring mattresses do have their issues, though. Networked coils magnify and transfer motion all over the bed. So innerspring mattresses may not be the best choice for couples.

Open coil mattresses also cannot contour all that well. This means innerspring mattresses offer the least customizable support of any mattress type. The lack of support can leave you with back pain.

Due to their lack of durability and decreased comfort, we typically don’t recommend innerspring mattresses. Those who love the feel of an innerspring bed might do better to consider the next mattress type on our list: a hybrid.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses combine a pocketed coil support core with at least two inches of foam up top. This foam can be natural latex or memory foam. Hybrids are the second most expensive mattress type at $1750 for an average queen. They’re also less durable than all-foam mattresses because their pocketed coils break down over time.

Pocketed coils are more durable than open coils but less durable than support foam. Expect your hybrid mattress to last around 15 years. All this means hybrids are the most expensive mattresses over the course of their lives.

However, you might think hybrid mattresses are worth it. Being expensive is just about their only downside. These mattresses combine the bounce and breathability of coils with the contouring of foam.

Individually wrapped coils can also contour all the way through. That means your mattress can adapt to your shape better than even all-foam mattresses. This offers superior spinal support and pressure relief alike.

Pocketed coils add responsiveness and breathability to memory foam. They can also help shave some of the initial cost off of latex mattresses. A latex hybrid will likely be more affordable than an all-foam mattress with a natural latex support layer. For all these reasons, innerspring lovers who want to keep their coils should consider a hybrid.

Firmness Level

A mattress’s firmness level is measured on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the firmest. Most of the time, you won’t find mattresses softer than about a three or firmer than about an eight. This is because there’s not much of a market for mattresses with absolutely no support or absolutely no give.

Unlike material, your mattress’s firmness shouldn’t have a big impact on its price. You might occasionally run across mattresses with slight price variations between firmness level options, but this is not the norm.

Also, unlike mattress material, firmness level should be determined more by your sleep position than your preferences. Personal preference has some impact, but each sleep position has a corresponding firmness level that you should keep in mind when purchasing your new mattress.

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers need the softest mattresses of all sleep positions. When you sleep on your side, one of your hip and shoulder joints makes contact with the bed. Your bodyweight then presses down on those joints, exerting lots of pressure that can lead to pain in an overly firm mattress.

Soft mattresses absorb the pressure exerted by your body’s weight rather than adding to it. They compress underneath the pressure points in your hips and shoulders to cradle them rather than push against them.

For this reason, most side sleepers will want to stick to a medium-soft mattress (four on the firmness scale). These mattresses for side sleeping offer plenty of cushioning and compression while maintaining sufficient support to keep the spine in natural alignment.

Combo Sleepers

Combination sleepers got their name because they like to switch things up night after night or even multiple times in the same night. Some combo sleepers might prefer one or two specific positions, while others don’t have a strong preference for any one sleep style.

Most of the time, combo sleepers need a medium mattress (five). A mattress for combination sleepers that falls right in the middle in terms of cradling and support offers the most versatility to combo sleepers. It can handle most sleep positions at least some of the time without exerting too much pressure or failing to provide enough support.

If you’re a combo sleeper, you’ll want to keep your preferred positions in mind. For instance, if you like to flip from your stomach to your back and rarely sleep on your side, you might consider a medium-firm mattress rather than a true medium. It all depends on which positions you adopt the most when you sleep.

Back Sleepers

Back sleepers need a mattress that can contour enough to fill in the gap in the lumbar region while still maintaining sufficient support to keep the spine aligned and the body lifted onto the sleep surface. Typically, a medium-firm mattress (six) fits this bill.

Medium-firm mattresses offer lots of support without losing all their cradling and compression. That means they won’t allow you to sink when you sleep on your back.

Mattresses for back sleeping also shape themselves to fit the curve of your spine and compress under the buttocks to prevent the lumbar region from collapsing onto the bed. This helps you avoid sleeping in a hunched position that can give you lower back pain.

Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers need the firmest mattresses of all sleep styles. This is because sleeping on your stomach allows your pelvis to sink into the bed. This sinking causes your spine to overextend and can cause lower back pain.

Firm mattresses (seven) help counter this effect. Firm mattresses have a little give and a lot of lift. So they can support your pelvis and keep your spine aligned even when you sleep on your stomach. It’s also best to sleep with a flat pillow to avoid twisting your neck as much as possible.

Even with a firm mattress and a flat pillow, sleeping on your stomach is still the most unhealthy position to adopt in slumber. It’s impossible to keep your spine aligned when your neck has to be twisted to one side in order to allow you to breathe, even with a mattress for stomach sleeping. For this reason, we recommend trying to train yourself to sleep on your side or back instead.

Body Type

Your sleep position determines your baseline firmness level. But your body weight plays a role as well. It can determine whether you need more or less support than the average sleeper who shares your sleep style.

Sleepers of average weight (between 130 and 230 pounds), can generally stick to the firmness level that corresponds to their sleep style without thinking about their body weight. But if you fall outside of this range, you’ll need to take that into consideration.

Plus-size sleepers are over 230 pounds. When you’re heavier, you need to account for the fact that your body needs more support to stay on top of the sleep surface. So you’ll want to consider going up a firmness level from the one that matches your sleep style when looking at mattresses for heavy sleepers.

For instance, if an average-weight stomach sleeper needs a firm mattress (seven), that means a heavier stomach sleeper needs an extra-firm mattress (eight).

Conversely, petite sleepers, who are less than 130 pounds, may need to go down a firmness level. This is because your body exerts less pressure on the bed when you’re lightweight. That means you might not get sufficient compression to cradle your pressure points. So mattress for lightweight sleepers needs a touch more softness than the one that corresponds to your sleep position preference.

To use stomach sleepers as an example again, stomach sleepers of average weight need firm mattresses. So petite stomach sleepers would need to consider going down to a medium-firm feel.

FAQs

What is the most affordable mattress type?

That depends on what you mean by the word “affordable.” In terms of just straight sticker price, innerspring mattresses are the most affordable because their average price comes in at less than $1,000. However, innerspring mattresses are not the most affordable mattresses over the course of their lives because they have to be replaced so often. That distinction goes to memory foam.

Memory foam is not the most durable material. Latex has that distinction. But latex is so expensive that its enhanced durability typically doesn’t make up for its high price tag.

While memory foam won’t last as long as latex, it will last longer than mattresses with coils. And its comparatively affordable average price tag of $1,150 combines with its durability to make memory foam the most affordable mattress over time. You’ll only pay a little more for it than you will for an innerspring mattress, and it will last much longer.

How do I get the best deal on a mattress?

You can get a fantastic deal on a mattress using several methods. An excellent way to get a stellar discount is to shop exclusively with online retailers. Online stores don’t have nearly as much overhead as physical stores. So they don’t pass the extra costs of things like rent and electricity and sales staff to you.

You can also shop annual sales like the kind that happen on Black Friday, Labor Day, Memorial Day, etc. Stores often mark these sales with steep discounts on most or all of their mattresses.

Finally, you might also consider waiting until spring to shop. Late winter through spring is the best season to look for a mattress because retailers are looking to unload inventory to make room for the new models coming out in the summer.

What is the most durable type of mattress?

The most durable mattress is natural latex. Natural latex can outlast all other mattress types – sometimes by many, many years. However, not all latex is created equal.

For instance, latex hybrids are not as durable as pure latex mattresses because their coils break down and lose tension over time. So the latex foam up top might last for decades, but the coils below might not.

Durability can also depend on the type of latex you’ve got, whether it’s Dunlop or Talalay latex. As a general rule, Dunlop latex is more durable than Talalay latex because Dunlop is denser and can stand up to more wear and tear. So even though they’re both natural latex, Dunlop will almost always outlast its counterpart.

Can a mattress protector make my mattress last longer?

A waterproof mattress protector can absolutely make your mattress last longer. Mattress protectors can defend your mattress against everything from spills to odors to bed bugs. Impermeable protectors don’t allow liquid through to your mattress.

That does a lot more than prevent a spilled glass of water from getting into your mattress foam. It also keeps out sweat, body fluids, and even urine if you have a child who still wets the bed. Keeping liquid out of the mattress helps to prevent odors from ruining it and requiring you to replace it. Controlling for liquids also keeps out another mattress ruiner: microbes.

Mattress protectors don’t just protect your mattress from moisture buildup that can lead to mold and mildew. They can also provide a physical barrier from pests like dust mites and bed bugs that can cause allergy symptoms and other issues.

What can I do to keep my mattress from aging too quickly?

Maintaining and cleaning your mattress can go a long way toward ensuring you don’t have to replace it too quickly. Of course, keeping a protector on it and washing that protector frequently are the first steps to keeping a clean and pest-free mattress. But there’s more to be done.

You also need to flip and rotate your mattress on a regular basis. If your mattress is flippable, turn it from one side to the other once every six months. You’ll also need to rotate it when you flip it to ensure it gets even pressure on all sides. If your mattress has a top and a bottom, you still need to rotate it from head to foot twice per year.

You can also ensure you’re laying your mattress on the correct base. Swapping out your box springs for a platform bed or a mattress foundation can offer sturdier support to your mattress. This can keep it from sagging and add years to its life expectancy.

Bottom Line

You don’t have to go on a pilgrimage to find one of the best mattresses for a great price. Just remember that initial cost is not the only factor you have to consider. You’ll also need to think about durability, quality, and comfort. Getting a cheap mattress that leaves you waking up in pain and falls apart after a few years isn’t exactly a fantastic deal.